Thursday, December 17, 2009

Most of the tourists who come to India like to take back handicrafts from here due to their innate qualities. The shopkeepers in India know this very well. They know how desperate people are to get one or the other kind of handicrafts. This makes them keep the rates very high. The local people know about their strategy and so they bargain hard when shopping for handicrafts. However, those coming from different countries, due to the lack of knowledge, are trapped and pay much more than is the right price of Indian handicrafts. Here are some bargaining strategies and tips for you to follow whenever going shopping for handicrafts or for any other products at the Indian markets.

Keep aside ample time for shopping. Never shop for things in a hurry.

Before actually buying your choice of product from a shop, visit at least 4-5 shops with same product to get a rough idea about the product's price. Although all the shopkeepers will tell higher rates but will differ in their quotes. Take out the average of all these prices to get an idea about the actual price.

Also visit some shops having fixed prices for their products. If possible, buy from there only. However, you may not get many options to choose from in these fixed price shops. If so, go to other places.

After calculating the tentative price of your desired object, you can start negotiations for purchase at a shop. Always keep a range of price and just not a particular amount. For example, if you liked a wooden table and the prices for this type of table was told at various shops ranging between Rs. 5000 to 7000 whereas a similar type of table at a 'fixed price' shop was around Rs. 4000, you can keep your buying rate at around Rs. 3500- 5500 depending upon the craft work on table (more detailed and fine work will cost more).

When seriously asking for the price of product, ask for the best price or some discount on it. The shopkeepers will generally cut the price at 10-20% of the quoted price.

Tell them, the thing is still too expensive. The shopkeeper will then ask you to quote a price.

When asked, always quote somewhat lower than what you intend to pay. For example if the shopkeeper told the price to be Rs. 6000 and after your survey, you know that its price should be around Rs 4000-4500, tell them you will pay R. 3000 for it.

The shopkeeper will first deny but will keep on negotiating. Don't be very rigid. When the shopkeeper comes down a little, you go up a little. However, if the shopkeeper becomes rigid about the price, stand up and pretend to leave the shop without buying the thing.

This will, in most of the cases, make the shopkeeper quote the best price. If that matches your intended payment, you may proceed. For example, if you are ready to give Rs 4000-4500 but the shop owner demands Rs. 4800, try a little to take it to your level. However, if he doesn't agree, settle the deal there.

Remember, if you come out of a shop without buying, the shopkeeper will then offer his best price. If you really like the piece, don't leave it because if you come back, you may not be in a position to bargain further.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Beads are great to make beautiful jewelery and crafts. However, they are a little messy when it comes to work with the beads. You have to be extra careful about not spilling them. Moreover, you need to store them rightly otherwise you might not get your stash when needed the most. Here are certain tips for storing your tiny as well as large beads securely to find the right bead when you want to finish the exclusive piece of that beaded bracelet or the earring!

Vials- vials or very small containers are available in the market and through online shopping. They are perfectly right for storing your seed beads. These vials mostly come in handy bead case having a nice snap closure that keeps your vials secured inside. The vials have top for easy viewing so that you open just the right container and not the others and save the risk of spilling them.

Bead Cases- There are different varieties of bead cases with novel features for keeping your bead treasure secured. Some of these cases have slots for storing bead. Some other bead boxes have acid-free tacky surface on top and bottom areas. Beads can be easily placed on these surfaces and they don't slip from there. Needles are then used to pick up beads from the surface. Some of them even have magnets to hold the needles. It makes them perfect for travel or for using at home.

Bead Organizers- There comes these bead organizer cases that are made with the purpose of easily carrying beads. These are in fact collections of boxes of various sizes. The large box or the beads organizer has some medium sized, small and mini boxes to store beads of different sizes. They also have bead scoops and tweezers in them to make the bead artists' work simpler.

Bead Storage Drawers- Clear drawers are also very good for storing beads. They can be used individually for one type of beads or the beads and other accessories can be stacked in them. The drawers pull out for easy access to needles, beads, tweezers or other small items.

Plastic Tubes- Plastic tubes are good for storing seed beads. Bead stores mostly sell smaller seed beads and cylinder beads in plastic tubes only. They can even be used for storing smaller gemstone and glass beads. However, the tops should remain firmly closed while traveling or storing beads.

Plastic Bags- The strands of larger beads like those of gemstone or glass beads and even animal beads can be easily stored in plastic bags. However, loose beads that are small in size should be avoided to be kept in bags as they can spill over when trying to take them out.

Monday, December 7, 2009

For all the fashion conscious women who are eagerly waiting for trends declaration- here is a good news. Yes you can now know what will be the jewelery trends for the year 2010! All said and done, skyrocketing prices of gold and effects of recession (though slowing down gradually) will make beaded jewelery the most popular style statement of 2010. Here are some pointers for you to note down about the trends of beads jewellery in 2010!

In 2009, ethnic jewelery was popular. African beads, seed beads were liked by the people. In 2010, although the fashion trends will be international in flavor (that means, designs will be more or less similar all over), the cultural mark will be there. Native materials and locally found beads will be used extensively for jewelery making.

People will search for individual fashion and style statement. Therefore, custom made beaded jewelery will remain popular. A search for meaning will result in creation of pieces that have greater symbolism. One and all jewelery pieces will tell a story – unique to its creator and wearer. Thus, 2010 is also a year of symbolic jewelery.

Hand made jewelery will continue to be hugely popular among masses. People will express their creativity by wearing own hand crafted beaded jewelery- necklaces, pendants, rings, bands- whatever they can make. Brides too will like to be DIY kinds. They will definitely wear bright, bold statement wedding jewelery but they don’t have to be expensive. Bright colored beaded necklaces will be preferred over pearls or diamonds.

Small, light bracelets; subtle beautifully beaded pendant; dangling earrings with glass beads or a central focus piece will become immensely popular. All will be in symmetry with clothing fashion trends.

As far as colors are concerened, cold colored beads will be more popular in 2010. Blacks, whites, blues and grays will be extensively used. If color forecasts of Pantone are to be believed then, Violet (Soft purple) and Aurora (other name for yellow) will lead the way in Spring/Summer 2010.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Tough times are tough for everyone- buyers as well as sellers. Fancy items like fashion accessories, arts & crafts are certain things whose purchasing is postponed during recession or financial downtime. However, not all experience financial crunches at the same time. There are many who want to buy specific crafts, even during economic downtime. There is the need to find out those buyers. Here are some tips for marketing your crafts during recession to such buyers.

Do a lots of personal networking- Keep in touch with friends, vendors, customers. Leave your business card at grocery shop counter, restaurants, in the envelope containing payments of bills and the like. You'll be amazed to get calls making inquiry about your products.

Respond Quickly- Never take any business enquiry for granted. Immediate respond to client inquiries.

Women crafts persons can be a member of some women's networking group, particularly if her target customers are middle to upper income group. Give presentation of your craft making process to generate interest about your crafts in the group. Male crafter can join recreational or some other groups to formally or informally promote his products.

Join online craft artists’ forums and discussion boards. Follow peers, customers, gallery owners and even your competitors on social networking websites. If possible, make your own website, either for showing off your work or as a retail sales outlet. If you can't afford a website- make a blog to promote your business.

Take help of auction and sale sites for selling wholesale crafts as well as for retail selling.

Advertise on cellphones. Followers of many sites willingly let them advertise through SMS in exchange of some offers. Explore such more avenues to advertise your work.

Design and sell handicraft for charity auctions or fundraising. Keep some share with you and give the rest as charity. Many people just buy things to help others. This way your business can help the needy too.

Join institutes like Museum Store Association and get listed on their website as a vendor. This list is often referred to by buyers from museum stores, antiques or collectible stores, zoos, national parks, etc. You can even get listed on online business directories who offer a free listing to businesses. For example, if you are in making wood crafts, you can get listed on Wooden Handicrafts B2B marketplace. And if you deal in beads or beading craft, get listed on Beads Manufactures Marketplace. Just a Google search on net and you'll find many directories pertaining to your niche market.

Leave a tourist brochure with hotels having large tourist traffic. They prove to be promising buyers of local crafts.

Organize home craft parties at your and friends', relatives' homes and present your work there. Make arrangements for profit sharing with them for regular organizing of such parties.